Tampa Man With Prior Conviction For Trafficking In Cocaine Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Cocaine With Intent To Distribute

Tampa, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Pabon (45, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pabon faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. This enhanced penalty is due to Pabon’s prior conviction for trafficking in cocaine in 2013. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, on May 13, 2024, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office acting in an undercover capacity (UC) contacted Pabon’s co-conspirator by phone. The co-conspirator agreed to sell the UC a kilogram of cocaine for $21,000. The next day, through an exchange of calls and text messages, the co-conspirator and the UC agreed to meet to conduct the kilogram cocaine transaction at a location in Tampa. During the preceding communications, the co-conspirator told the UC that he was waiting on a source of supply to provide the kilogram of cocaine prior to being able to distribute it to the UC.

Prior to meeting with the UC, DEA agents observed the co-conspirator meeting Pabon. Surveillance footage from the transaction location showed Pabon and the co-conspirator having a short conversation outside Pabon’s vehicle. After this conversation, agents observed the co-conspirator retrieve an object from Pabon’s car, return to his own vehicle, drive across the parking lot to the UC’s location, and emerge from his vehicle holding a kilogram of cocaine. The cocaine was tested by the DEA laboratory and confirmed to be 1,012 grams of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.